capsule - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
capsule Word Meanings
- a small container for a drug or other substance
- a structure or unit of something
- a small spacecraft or part of a spacecraft
capsule Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
capsule Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈkæp.sjuːl/
US
/ˈkæp.səl/
capsule Word Etymology
Root decomposition: cap- = to hold, -sule = small. Historical origin: Latin → Old French → English. Memory image: imagine a tiny container that securely holds an important medicine, encapsulated for protection.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
A capsule is a small container used to hold a drug or substance, often designed to release its contents in a controlled way. It can also refer to a structural unit or component of a larger system, or, in spaceflight, a small spacecraft or part of one. Think of a tiny protected package that you swallow, or a modular building block that fits into a bigger machine. The imagery helps distinguish capsule from pill, module, or cocoon. Note the plural capsules; adjective form capsular appears in biology and medicine.
Usage Reminders
- • Capsule vs pill: capsules are usually gelatin shells; pills are compressed powders.
- • Plural is capsules.
- • Capsule can mean a drug container, a structural unit, or a space capsule.
- • In biology, a capsule is a protective layer around some bacteria.
- • Capsular is a common medical adjective; avoid overgeneralizing to nonmedical uses.
Common Misconceptions
- Capsule always means a medicine container; it can also be a unit in a larger system
- Capsule and pill are interchangeable
- All capsules are swallowed; some are opened for other uses
- Capsule only refers to drugs or space travel
- Capsule and module are the same thing
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short)
Learning Tips
- Visualize: a small protective container
- Note the three senses: container, unit, space capsule
- Learn capsules vs pills; notice shells and contents
- Biology use: capsule as protective outer layer
- Form: capsules -> plural; capsular as medical adjective
- Practice with real examples
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'capsule'?
A.Small container
B.Big box
C.Long tube
D.Round ball
Step 2: Usage
In which sentence is 'capsule' used correctly?
A.I ate a delicious capsule for lunch.
B.The colorful capsule flew through the sky.
C.She wore a capsule as jewelry.
D.The capsule was too heavy to lift.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'capsule'?
A.Envelope
B.Bucket
C.Barrel
D.Cloth
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'capsule'?
A.Vast
B.Expansion
C.Limitless
D.Infinite
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would you find a 'capsule'?
A.On a construction site for building materials
B.In a pharmacy storing medicine
C.In a zoo with wild animals
D.In a library with books
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
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